The Center for Policy and Research at Seton Hall University School of Law is directed by Professor Mark Denbeaux and is located in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. Founded in 2005, students, serving as Fellows at the Center, conduct the bulk of the Center’s research and policy analysis, as well as publish reports – in conjunction with Senior Fellows at the Center (working attorneys) as well Seton Hall faculty – on subjects of national importance. Major studies undertaken by the Fellows include research projects on: United States detention practices and policies (most notably in Guantánamo Bay); interrogation and intelligence gathering; proficiency tests of forensic witnesses; and the demographic impact of New Jersey’s Drug-Free Zones.
Contents |
The Center has researched and published ten reports on United States national security and detention policies at Guantanamo Bay. The Center’s work on these issues has been presented during testimony at four difference Congressional committee proceedings.[1] The Center’s reports have also been introduced to the European Parliament.[2]
The Reports draw on Department of Defense data and public statements to develop profiles of the detainees in terms of the offenses with which they are charged, the places of their capture, and the terrorist groups with whom they are said to be associated. The most recent report focuses on Incident Reports prepared by the Government in order to assess the dangerousness of the detainees to their captors and various Government statements to determine how dangerous the detainees are to themselves.[3]
On October 5, 2006, the Center and Seton Hall Law put on the Guantánamo Teach-In entitled Guantánamo: How Should We Respond?. The Fellows organized an event that reached more than 200 law schools, colleges, medical schools and divinity schools across America.[4]
Mark Denbeuax, and Jonathan Hafetz published a book titled "The Guantanamo Lawyers: Inside a Prison Outside the Law" on November 9, 2009. The book, published through NYU Press, presents personal passages written by lawyers who represent clients held at Guantanamo Bay. There are deeply personal stories about the relationship between prisoner and lawyer, and stories documenting the red tape and secondary legal system established by the US Government to adjudicate Guantanamo cases. Center research fellows Grace Brown, Jill Gutieri, Mark Muio, and Michelle Fish served as editors for the book. Center fellow Adam Deutsch contributed a time-line of significant events at Guantanamo Bay.
In addition, NYU Press is jointly creating an electronic archive within the NYU library. The archive will digitally preserve the primary reports and related documents related to Guantánamo Bay.
The Center’s current research agenda includes a systematic review of forensic evidence. The Fellows are seeking to determine the validity of different types of forensic evidence. As part of the current research, the Fellows evaluate the methodology, proficiency, and validity of hand writing, ballistics, finger printing, blood spatter, and tool marks. The Center will issue reports on the proficiency testing of all areas. To this effect, the Center has undertaken a two-year study on forensic evidence proficiency tests and forensic witnesses. The results of the Fellows’ proficiency testing – along with an analysis of the testing methodology – will be published when the testing cycles are completed.[5]
Public Radio International interview 7-30-09: http://www.theworld.org/2009/07/30/preserving-guantanamo-history*[2] Denbeaux statement to Senate Judiciary Committee 12-11-07: http://kyl.senate.gov/legis_center/subdocs/121107_denbeaux.pd *[3] Denbeaux quote in article about GTMO detainee held over charity ties: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/08/31/detentions_over_charity_ties_questioned *[4] Citation: 48 Harv. Int’l L.J. Online 69 (2007): http://www.harvardilj.org/online/111 *[5] Citing Feb 2006 report: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/washington/26gitmo.htm *[6] Quote in- Guardian: 2-23-09: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/23/guantanamo-bay-prison-human-rights *[7] Report Site: 1-8-08: http://www.theagitator.com/2008/01/08/innocent-in-guantanamo *[8] Report Study: 1-22-09: http://www.slate.com/id/2209404 *[9] Denbeaux quote/study: 11-21-06: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=651492 *[10] Denbeaux quote: 6-14-06: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-14-bush-gitmo_x.htm *[11] Rafiq Lawsuit: 4-23-09: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/tunisian_man_sues_over_alleged.html *[12] Denbeaux quote: 6-12-06: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,199030,00.html *[13] Report quote 2-11-06: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\02\11\story_11-2-2006_pg4_4 *[14] Report quote 6-10-09: http://blog.taragana.com/n/new-jersey-law-professor-alleges-pentagon-inflates-recidivism-of-freed-gitmo-detainees-76953 *[15] Report quote: 5-21-09: http://sweetness-light.com/archive/1-in-7-freed-detainees-back-at-terrorism *[16] Denbeaux quote/report: 1-14-09: http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2009-01/2009-01-14-voa12.cfm?CFID=309692450&CFTOKEN=35800358&jsessionid=8830d5fd70acd4a457a2019a215f5d3d1458 *[17] Report site: 4-7-09: http://www.torturesnotus.net/pb/wp_5f06f211/wp_5f06f211.html *[18] Report site: 1-25-09: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/25/national/main4752211.shtml *[19] Report Site: 5-20-09: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/politics/21gitmo.html *[20] Denbeaux quote: 6-12-06: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0612-03.htm *[21] Denbeaux Quote: 6-12-06: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5070514.stm *[22] Riccardelli site 5-27-09: http://www.shuruleoflaw.com/2009/01/27/209/ *[23] Report/Denbeaux quote: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/1166 *[24] Report Quote. 9-9-07: http://www.witnesstorture.org/who_are_they *[25] Report Quote: http://gdaeman.blogspot.com/2007/09/many-in-guantanamo-are-innocent.html *[26] Report site 1-26-09: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/fd/refugeeresettlement_/RefugeeResettlement_en.pdf *[27] Report site 1-22-09: http://bucknakedpolitics.typepad.com/buck_naked_politics/2009/01/was-the-guantanamo-report-fake.html *[28] Denbeaux quote 2-24-06: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0122/p01s01-usgn.html *[29] Report site: http://www.smh.com.au/news/richard-ackland/innocence-ignored-at-guantanamo/2006/02/23/1140670202994.html *[30]